Council Provided Information - 10/2/2024CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY
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COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL of SALT LAKE CITY
TO:City Council Members
FROM:Brian Fullmer
Policy Analyst
DATE:October 1, 2024
RE: Zoning Map Amendment at 450 East 700 South
PLNPCM2023-00452
BRIEFING UPDATE
During the September 3, 2024 briefing, Council Members expressed general support for the proposed
zoning map amendment noting the potential for missing middle housing that may be affordable while
retaining the existing home on the property. No significant concerns or questions were raised and the
public hearing was set for October 1.
The following information was provided for September 3, 2024 Council meeting. It is
included again for background purposes.
The Council will be briefed about a proposal to amend the zoning map for the approximately 0.22-acre
parcel at 450 East 700 South in Council District Four from its current RMF-35 (Moderate Density Multi-
Family Residential) zoning to RMF-30 (Low Density Multi-Family Residential). The petitioner’s stated
objective is to develop unused portions of the property with two additional homes in a configuration it may
have been in historically. An existing home on the site is proposed to remain. An official development
application hasn’t been submitted, but the petitioner included a preliminary development plan submitted
with the application and can be found on page 3 of the Planning Commission staff report.
RMF-35 zoning requires lot sizes of at least 5,000 square feet and with a 50-foot minimum width. Lot sizes
within RMF-30 zoning may be as small as 2,000 square feet, and there is no minimum lot width.
An easement was purchased by Preservation Utah in 1993 and prohibits demolition or significant exterior
changes to the home without consent of the easement holder. Zoning of the property is not dictated by the
easement. It is worth noting that this is a private easement, and the City has no legal interest in it. In
Item Schedule:
Briefing: September 3, 2024
Set Date: September 17, 2024
Public Hearing: October 1, 2024
Potential Action: October 15, 2024
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addition to meeting City requirements, development on the site would need to be approved Preservation
Utah’s Historic Properties Committee.
The Planning Commission reviewed the proposal at its February 14, 2024 meeting and held a public
hearing at which two people spoke. One commenter recommended a development agreement recognizing
the responsibility of Preservation Utah regarding the property. The other commenter expressed general
support for the proposal. Planning staff recommended and the Commission voted unanimously
to forward a positive recommendation to the Council.
Goal of the briefing: Review the proposed zoning map amendments, determine if the Council supports
moving forward with the proposal.
POLICY QUESTIONS
1. The Council may wish to ask the applicant if housing planned for the site is anticipated to be rental
or for sale and if they will be affordable units.
2. The Council may wish to ask the Administration how the Affordable Housing Incentives may
impact this petition or development potential on the property.
3. The Council may wish to ask the petitioner what sustainable features such as all electric homes,
solar panels, high efficiency HVAC systems, etc. are planned for the new homes.
As shown in the map below, area zoning is primarily RMF-35 fronting the south side of 700 South, with
some RMF-30 to the east and on the north side of 700 South. The surrounding neighborhood is primarily
residential with single-family homes, row houses, and apartment buildings. Two notable buildings in the
area include the Liberty Wells Community Center on the southeast corner of 400 East and 700 South, and
a church on the southwest corner of 500 East and 700 South.
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Area zoning map with subject parcel highlighted in blue.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The Council is only being asked to consider rezoning the property. No formal site plan has been submitted
to the City nor is it within the scope of the Council’s authority to review the plans. Because zoning of a
property can outlast the life of a building, any rezoning application should be considered on the merits of
changing the zoning of that property, not simply based on a potential project.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS
Planning staff identified three key considerations related to the proposal which are found on pages 5-7 of
the Planning Commission staff report and summarized below. For the complete analysis, please see the
staff report.
Consideration 1 – Master Plan Compatibility
Planning staff found that the proposed zoning map amendment supports several initiatives in Plan Salt
Lake (2015) including Neighborhood, Growth, Housing, and Beautiful City. In addition, the (2005) Central
Community Master Plan suggests 15-30 dwelling units per acre, which both the current RMF-35 and
proposed RMF-30 zoning districts meet. It is Planning staff’s opinion that rezoning the property would not
affect the property’s compatibility with the Central Community Master Plan’s future land use map. Finally,
Planning found that the requested zoning map amendment supports the spirit of Housing SLC (2023)
though few initiatives within the plan specifically apply to the proposal.
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Consideration 2 – Housing Loss Mitigation
Petitions that change zoning allowing a nonresidential use of the land including residential units must have
an approved housing loss mitigation plan. The cost to replace the existing structure is greater than that
structure’s value, resulting in a negative number (though it would be very difficult to get approval to
demolish the existing home because of the preservation easement). Since it is a negative number, no
mitigation fee is required.
Consideration 3 – Preservation Easement
As discussed above, Preservation Utah holds a preservation easement on the subject property intended to
preserve the existing historic home. Some requirements of the easement include:
No construction, alteration, remodeling, demolition, or any other modification that would change
exterior materials or dimensions is allowed without Preservation Utah’s consent.
The property owner must keep the house in good repair.
Additions visible from the street are not allowed.
No new buildings shall be constructed without express permission from Preservation Utah.
Preservation Utah does not have a position on the proposed new homes since no official development plans
have been submitted.
As previously mentioned, the preservation easement does not prevent changes to the property’s zoning or
future land use designation.
A zoning district comparison is included on page 19 of the Planning Commission staff report. It is
replicated here for convenience.
RMF-35 (Existing)RMF-30 (Proposed)
Maximum Building
Height
35 feet Single- and two-family: 30 feet
Row houses: 30 feet.
Cottage development:
23 feet (pitched roof)
16 feet (flat roof).
Tiny house: 16 feet.
Nonresidential and multi-
family: 30 feet.
Front and Corner Side
Setback
Front yard: 20 feet
Corner side yard: 10 feet
Front yard:
20 feet or block face average.
Corner side yard: 10 feet.
Interior Side Setback Detached single-family:
4 feet and 10 feet.
Two-family (single lot):
4 feet and 10 feet.
Twin home (split lot): 10 feet.
Attached single-family:
4 feet (non-party wall).
Multi-family: 10 feet.
Single- and two family:
4 feet and 10 feet.
Row houses: 4 feet.
Sideways row houses:
6 feet and 10 feet.
Cottage development: 4 feet.
Tiny house: 4 feet.
Nonresidential: 30 feet.
Multi-family: 10 feet.
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Rear Setback 25% of lot depth, 20 foot
minimum, 25 foot maximum.
Cottage development and tiny
house: 10 feet.
All others: 20% of lot depth, 25
foot maximum.
Minimum Lot Width Detached single-family:
50 feet.
Two-family: (single lot):
50 feet.
Twin home (split lot):
25 feet per lot.
Attached single-family:
22 feet (interior lots)
32 feet (corner lots).
Multi-family: 80 feet.
None
Maximum Lot Width None 110 feet, including combination
of multiple lots.
Minimum Lot Size Detached single-family:
5,000 square feet.
Two-family (single lot):
8,000 square feet.
Twin home (split lot):
4,000 square feet (per lot).
Attached single-family:
3,000 square feet.
Multi-family:
9,000 square feet (3 units)
2,000 square feet (per
additional unit up to 11)
26,000 square feet (12 units)
1,000 square feet (per unit
over 12).
Cottage development and tiny
house:
1,500 square feet per unit.
Non-residential:
5,000 square feet per building.
All other uses:
2,000 square feet per unit.
Building Coverage Detached single-family:
45% of lot area.
Two-family (single lot): 50%
Twin home (split lot): 50%
Attached single-family: 60%
Multi-family: 60%
50%
Open Space, Landscape
Yards, and Landscape
Buffers
10-foot landscape buffer if
abutting single- or two-family
zoning district.
Front and corner side yards
must include landscape yard
according to 21A.48.
10-foot landscape buffer if
abutting single- or two-family
zoning district.
Front and corner side yards
must include landscape yard
according to 21A.48.
New buildings in the RMF-30 zoning district are subject to additional design standards that are not required in
the RMF-35 district. These are outlined in a table on page 20 of the Planning Commission staff report and
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replicated below.
Requirement Standard
Building materials, ground floor At least 50% of street-facing facades must be clad in durable
materials (excluding doors and windows).
Building materials, upper floors At least 50% of street-facing facades must be clad in durable
materials (excluding doors and windows).
Glass: ground floor 20% of street-facing facades must have transparent glass between 3
and 8 feet above grade.
Glass: upper floor 15% of street-facing facades must have transparent glass.
Building Entrances Required for each residential unit facing the street.
Blank Wall Maximum Length 15 feet
Entry Features Each entry required by the design standards must include a
permitted entry feature, as listed in 21A.37.050.O
Analysis of Standards
Attachment F (pages 24-25) of the Planning Commission staff report outlines zoning map amendment standards
that should be considered as the Council reviews this proposal. The standards and findings are summarized
below. Please see the Planning Commission staff report for additional information.
Factor Finding
Whether a proposed map amendment is consistent
with the purposes, goals, objectives, and policies of
the city as stated through its various adopted
planning documents.
Complies
Whether a proposed map amendment furthers the
specific purpose statements of the zoning ordinance.
Complies
The extent to which a proposed map amendment will
affect adjacent properties
Complies
Whether a proposed map amendment is consistent
with the purposes and provisions of any applicable
overlay zoning districts which may impose additional
standards.
N/A
The adequacy of public facilities and services
intended to serve the subject property, including, but
not limited to, roadways, parks and recreational
facilities, police and fire protection, schools,
stormwater drainage systems, water supplies, and
wastewater and refuse collection.
Complies
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City Department Review
During City review of the petitions, no responding departments or divisions expressed concerns with the
proposal but stated additional review and permits would be required if there is additional development on
the property.
PROJECT CHRONOLOGY
• June 13, 2023 – Application submitted to Planning Division.
• June-September 2023 – Planning staff worked with applicant to remedy application deficiencies.
• October 9, 2023 –
o 45-day notice required for recognized community organizations sent to community
councils.
o Early notification provided to neighbors within 300 feet of the development.
• November 24, 2023 – 45-day public comment period for recognized community organizations
ended.
• July 3, 2023 –
o Notice sent to Granary District Alliance, Ballpark Community Council, and Downtown
Community Council.
o Early notification sent to residents and property owners within 300 feet of the project site.
• November 2023-January 2024 – Online open house hosted to solicit public comments on the
proposal.
• February 2, 2024 –
o Public hearing notice mailed. Public notice posted on Cit and State websites and Planning
Division listserv.
o Public hearing notice posted on the property.
• February 14, 2024 – Planning Commission public hearing. The Planning Commission voted 7-0 to
forward a positive recommendation to the City Council for the proposed zoning map amendment.
• March 13, 2024 – Ordinance requested from City Attorney’s Office.
o (Planning staff noted the City Attorney’s Office was limited due to a reduction in
available personnel and a number of pressing cases taking up available staff time.)
• June 20, 2024 – Planning received signed ordinance from the Attorney’s Office.
• July 16, 2024 – Transmittal received in City Council Office.